BASKETBALL MINISTRY
By: Joel Padilla
I have been
working as a missionary in Kankana-ey Project for almost a year now. I have
observed that most of our Bible interests and converts are women and young
children. We don’t have a male youth group so I was praying to God how to reach
them. I have observed that there are a
lot of young adults who are standing by (istambay) or idlers.
One day, my partner and I were
conducting house to house visitation. I saw the young men passing by. They were
laughing out loud and I have seen that they are carrying a basketball
ball. They are going to the barangay
basketball court. This gave me an idea how to befriend them. I decided that I
will play with them during my free time.
One
Sunday afternoon, I went to the basketball court and sat down on the nearby
bench. At first I was a little bit shy and hesitant but at the back of my mind,
I was praying that God will work. I also observed that even the married men
were present. The men asked me if I’d like to play with them and so I played.
This started our friendship. Every Sunday afternoon, I played with them. Sometimes,
I invited my partner to play with them too. Because of this, I observed that
the barrier started to break between us. There were times that they went to our
house and invited us but we refuse if we have something to do. We told them
that we can only play during our day off.
Time
passed we became friends. One time, they invited me to drink liquor. Instead of getting mad at them or keeping
myself away, I grabbed the opportunity to share my testimonies. I told them,
“You know what? I was also a drunkard before. Other than that, I have a lot of
vices. I was hard-headed and troublesome man. I was always on the fight. But
when I have known my Savior, He had changed me so I am here now in your place.
If I didn’t allow God to change me, maybe I am in prison now or maybe I was
already killed.” They were amazed because they thought that I don’t know
anything about vices. They said, “Fortunately, you are able to stop your vices.
But us, we can’t avoid it.” “I didn’t do it by myself, instead God help me. If you
will just let God to work in you, nothing is impossible,” I answered. Because
of this conversation, the seed of truths started to reach their heart. They
have a lot of questions and struggles but I gave them the answers base on God’s
Word.
Please
pray for our male prospects that God will prepare their hearts. Thank you very
much. God bless!
STAND LIKE THE BRAVE
By: James Tianzon
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
After the baptism of the converts here, it was known to the village & their relatives. We visited them so to strengthen their faith. We’re thinking that they will face a lot of persecutions.
Sabbath day, they came and we started our worship. They related stories to one another and I listened. I heard the persecutions they had experienced from the people and especially from their families. Some of them received painful words. Some of them were threatened to be forced out from their homes. Some of them have been told that they were cheated by the Adventist pastors.
I took the opportunity to give the message that time to give them courage. We invited them to eat with us after the service, some remained & some went home. While we are eating, Sister Pacita, one of the converts shared her experience. She told us , “Whatever happens, I will stay in this church because I know this is where the truth is & God will not leave me here.”
God is really working in the hearts of the seekers. Please pray for Sister Pacita that she would carry the light whatever happens and would share it to her family as well. She is the only one baptized in the family.
FAINT NOT
By: James Tianzon
Isang umaga, ako ay pumunta sa aming garden para magtanim pero bago ako nagtanim ay inihanda ko muna ang lupa na aking pagtataniman. Aking nilagyan ng pataba at compost upang maging maganda ang pagkakatubo ng binhi na aking itatanim. At pagkatapos kong maihanda ang lupa, akin nang itinanim ang mga binhi, aking hihintayin na lamang ang kanilang pagtubo.
Tuwing umaga ay aking tinatanaw kung sila ay tumubo na sapagkat ako ay natutuwa na makita’t masilayan ang kanilang pagtubo. Ang araw ay lumipas ngunit ako ako ay patuloy na naghihintay sa kanilang pagtubo. Subalit lumipas ang isang linggo’t isang buwan, ang mga binhi na aking itinanim ay hindi tumubo. Dahil dito, ako ay nag-alala kung bakit hindi tumubo ang mga binhi. Nang aking tiningnan ang mga binhi na aking itinanim, ang iba ay nabulok at ang ilan nama’y kinain ng uod.
Dahil dito ako ay nalungkot, at ang sabi ko sa aking sarili “naging walang silbi pala ang lahat ng aking ginawa, aking nilagyan ng pataba subalit ito pala ay walang silbi din.” Habang aking iniisip ang mga nangyari, aking naalala ang isang talata sa Bibliya na masusumpungan sa Galatia 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”
Siguro pinahintulutan ng Dios na mangyari ang ganitong pangyayari upang ako ay paalalahanan. Totoo na mahirap ang maging mangangaral, kung minsa’y aking iniisip na ang lahat ay nagiging walang kabuluhan dahil sa tagal. But God wants me to continue in doing His will. At ako’y nagpasalamat sa Dios sa mga nangyaring ito, pinatunayan ng Panginoon that our labor is not in vain sapagkat nagbubunga ang atin pong gawain dito sa Kankanaey Project. Patuloy po sana nating ipanalangin na sana po ay marami po tayong madala sa paanan ng Panginoon.
